Workshop Schedule
More workshop descriptions are coming. There will be 7 workshops per time slot/session.
Workshop Session 1 (Friday, Sept. 27, 9:30am-10:45am)
Why Would You Ever Do That?—the Real Source and Strength of Living a “Remarkably Different” Life
Instructor: Tara Barthel
After Tara encourages us from Romans 12 and Romans 5 as to how we can persevere in living a “remarkably different” life, she will be available for questions and informal conversations related to the specifics in her keynote address: duty (Christ compels me), depravity (my sin and stupidity are real), and destiny (this world is not my home). Tara particularly looks forward to learning from you during these discussions. Please join in and share your wisdom!
The Restorative Power of Restitution
Instructor: Peter Celum
Restitution is a biblical reality, but where does it fall on the conciliation continuum? And when is restitution necessary to promote restoration? Come explore biblical principles behind restitution, consider what different forms restitution can take, and discover restitution as a remarkably different expression of grace rather than a legalistic requirement to help resolve conflict.
Personal Peacemaking in a World of Chaos
Instructor: Karl Dortzbach
The news media is full of terms like “peace-building” and “peacekeeping forces” but personal peacemaking often seems less important. Through our work with doctoral students from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, Peacemaker Ministries has caught a glimpse of how peace systems fit together. Using case studies, we will explore the differences between peacemaking, peacekeeping and peace-building and examine them at both a personal or micro level, as well as in larger settings, such as church communities and UN-level operations. Together we will explore questions such as, “Why is personal peacemaking so vital to the overall process of achieving national peace anywhere?”
Peacemaking in the Workplace – For Leaders, Supervisors & HR Professionals
Instructor: Christian Muntean
Mediating and coaching in workplace environments is often complex and can include multiple parties, technical issues, power-differentials, policy & legal considerations, organizational structure & dynamics and the constant questions of cost and time. In this workshop we’ll explore the important differences between options and approaches for organizational leadership, internal consultants & HR staff and external consultants. You’ll also be introduced to: how to assess an organizational conflict, intervention process design and how to gain ‘buy-in.’
Divorce Recovery: How Peacemaker Principles Can Bring Hope and Healing
Instructor: Rhonda Wootton
A common problem for churches is how to speak into the lives of families suffering from the after-effects caused by divorce. Ideally, peacemaker (PM) principles as part of a church’s curriculum and practice can preemptively assist couples considering divorce. But for many families who have already gone through the devastation of divorce, PM principles can still bring hope and healing. This workshop will explore how one church has used basic PM principles to develop a six-week divorce recovery program in their church community. This workshop will also address how to present PM principles very effectively in a non-Christian setting through a divorce recovery program, expanding the scope of opportunity to share this material in non-church settings (community centers, continuing educational programs, secular conciliation services, etc.).NOTE: This workshop is not intended to assist PM Conference attendees in divorce recovery, but rather instruct on how to plan, develop, and execute a divorce recovery workshop program in their home church and/or community.
Helping Leaders Reconcile Through ‘Application Workshops’
Instructors: Anne Bachle Fifer & Kristen Maloney
Church and organizational leaders who are in conflict can benefit from “application workshops” that deepen their understanding of peacemaking principles by applying them to their own conflict and to scenarios similar to their own conflict. We will discuss several ideas for such workshops that have been used effectively to assist leaders in conflict find reconciliation. Anyone who works with leaders in conflict will come away with new tools to help them.
Workshop Session 2 (Friday, September 27, 11:15am-12:30pm)
Building a Church Culture of Peace and Safety through Developing Good Child Protection Policy
Instructor: Connie Bancroft
When congregations suffer the effects of child abuse occurring within their churches/ministries, the Gospel message, the ministries, and the integrity of that particular church are deeply damaged. Balancing the need to protect our children, the young flock of our church, with keeping the Gospel centrally focused in our ministries can be difficult, yet very important. In this presentation, we will focus on how churches can effectively work through the process of writing good policy and providing training for staff and volunteers without overwhelming the flock. Connie brings her years of experience within the classroom and the church to this workshop session. Don’t miss this opportunity to make your church “remarkably different” in building a culture of peace within your children and teen departments/ministries.
Extraordinarily Different Conversations
Instructor: Christopher Cottrell
Have you ever had one of those conversations that you hoped had ended in a better way? Has anyone ever asked you for help regarding how to have a peaceful conversation with someone and you found yourself wondering the same thing, but you were without any ideas or tools to help? This workshop is focused on equipping you to experience “extraordinarily different conversations” that are biblical, healthy, and productive. Key Scriptures will be explored pertaining to how the church worked through these difficult, even fierce conversations that led them toward health and a powerful witness. Biblical principles will be identified for initiating critical conversations with individuals and groups that can lead toward renewed mission and a stronger Christian witness. Also, you will take away principles for engaging in critical conversations with people outside the church, including your extended family, people at work, and other connections in your community. This workshop is for everyone desiring to engage in “extraordinarily different conversations”.
Teamwork: Working with Co-Conciliators
Instructors: Beatta Schultz & Jeff Sprinkel
Whether we are a new or experienced conciliator, when dealing with parties or issues that test our skills and abilities teaming up with another conciliator often proves effective! Each conciliator is equipped with God given skills, experiences and spiritual gifts which can be multiplied for effective ministry when used in collaboration with another conciliator’s God given skills, experiences and spiritual gifts! Or might it turn into another conflict in need of a conciliator? This workshop will include a combination of teaching, demonstrations and group discussion as we explore topics such as when to involve a co-conciliator, pros and cons of conciliators working as a team, seizing opportunities to demonstrate the 3G’s to parties in real time, leveraging the gifts of each conciliator throughout the process, learning from the other conciliator and more. This workshop is appropriate for conciliators of all experience levels. Each attendee will take away practical tips for working with a teammate. New conciliators will receive specific advice that will come in handy as they begin their conciliator journey. Veteran conciliators will be offered an opportunity to share their unique experiences in working with co-conciliators so that we can learn from and support one another — because that’s what teammates do.
A Gentle Answer: Turning Hearts Away From Wrath and Towards Reconciliation
Instructor: Patrick Van Hoecke
In many conflicts requiring peacemaking assistance the relationship between parties has been fractured by the intensity of emotions and uncharitable assumptions born out of powerful unmet desires. The challenge for the Christian mediator is to earn the trust of both parties in order to turn them from attacking each other and towards attacking the issues they are struggling with while avoiding becoming an additional party to the conflict. In this workshop we will consider various ways the mediator or conflict coach can set the tone of the peacemaking process through the development of communication (verbal and nonverbal) skills, and strategies that embody the expression of grace and truth. This workshop will include teaching, small group discussion, and role playing intended to add to your peacemaker toolbox.
The Case for Case Studies – Adventures in Teaching outside My Comfort Zone
Instructor: Chip Zimmer
You don’t have to travel half way around the world to teach cross-culturally. Profound differences in theology and practice are often as close as that “other” church down the street. Over the years, we have learned that realistic case studies provide a practical and enjoyable way to appreciate cultural differences of all kinds. This workshop will show you how to create and use conflict stories to teach effectively in a culture different from your own.
Workshop Session 3 (Friday, September 27, 2:00pm-3:15pm)
Preparing, Protecting and Preserving the Parties through the Process
Instructor: Brent Amato
Consider some of the challenges for the mediator before the parties get to the table: orientation to the process; measuring and securing commitment to the process; managing expectations; getting to the “heart of the matter”; dealing with “baggage”. Consider some of the challenges after they leave the table: how to get to a signed Mediation Agreement; ending the process; holding parties accountable; getting paid; receiving evaluations. What strategies are helpful in meeting these challenges? Come expand and strengthen your peacemaking mediation skills by exploring personal application to these issues and our response, to the glory to God and blessing of the parties.
A Biblical X-Ray into Relationship Dynamics
Instructor: Ernie Baker
A model will be taught that will help the conciliator to biblically analyze and organize why individuals relate to others the way they do, especially during inevitable conflict. In particular, we will look at relationship skills and character traits that enhance relationships. Or, just the opposite, when these are lacking relationship tensions will be compounded. Ultimately, we will see how all is flowing from the heart (Proverbs 4:23) and how our hearts directly impact the way we relate to others in relationship skills like communication (Matthew 12:34-35) and character traits like gentleness (Ephesians 4:1-3) or the lack thereof. Most importantly we will see that biblically the heart is about worship and that as the treasures of the heart change (things like worship of control, or comfort loving) the way we relate to others changes as well. In other words, our personalities are not stuck because embedded in the Gospel is the power to change toward Christ likeness (Isaiah 61:1-2). Questions will be given to help discern heart motives and a case study will be presented to help participants understand how to use the model presented.
Peacemaking and the Pursuit of Justice (Part 1)
Instructors: Nina Balmaceda & Chip Zimmer
Many of us associate justice with formal proceedings, such as court or arbitration, but not with informal processes, such as coaching and mediation. Yet, from a biblical viewpoint, justice is much more than a set of “standards” impersonally applied. Biblical justice is highly personal and is all about “treating others as their worth requires.” This two-part workshop will explore how a biblical understanding of justice can be part of any peacemaking process.
Finishing Well: The Relational Bucket List and How to Fill It
Instructors: Bill & Peggy White
“Therefore, since we have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus….” Hebrews 12:1 This workshop is an exploration of the areas we need to visit (spiritual, emotional, physical health, material) to assure the kind of relational inheritance we hope for with God, spouse, children, siblings, & friends. What unfinished business do we have in all of these relationships? With an eye to the coming tsunami of “Boomer based” end of life conflict, we’ll take a look at a checklist of areas of potential conflict and explore approaches to the conflict with an eye to “finishing the race well!” Attendees will come away with a checklist of unfinished business we all have and some suggested ways of using peacemaking principles that can help us put our relational house in order, especially for Boomers, their parents and children. Also ideas for presentations to churches & other groups highlighting the potential for using conciliator services to pro-actively deal with these issues.
Teaching Children to be Remarkably Different
Instructor: Marie Slovisky
How can we teach children to address their mistakes and deal with conflict in a biblical way? How can I teach peacemaking principles in a fun and memorable way? This workshop will focus on the Young Peacemaker as well as the Peacemaker in Training curriculum to teach children the basic peacemaking principles. We will explore, like children, how to bring these principles to different learning styles and even how to lead children to Christ through these principles. This will help you to raise children at home or in the classroom to treat conflict in a remarkably different way.
Workshop Session 4 (Friday, September 27, 3:45pm-5:00pm)
Peacemaking and the Pursuit of Justice (Part 2)
Instructors: Nina Balmaceda & Chip Zimmer
Many of us associate justice with formal proceedings, such as court or arbitration, but not with informal processes, such as coaching and mediation. Yet, from a biblical viewpoint, justice is much more than a set of “standards” impersonally applied. Biblical justice is highly personal and is all about “treating others as their worth requires.” This two-part workshop will explore how a biblical understanding of justice can be part of any peacemaking process.
Regressing the Progression
Instructor: Gerry Dagonese
Whether in our personal lives or while walking others through their own conflicts, it is often easier to identify the punishment which fuels the battle rather than the desires of the heart which ignite and begin turning our focus away from the gospel. This workshop will focus on reverse navigating the Progression of an Idol slope from “punishment” through to “desire” to help identify the heart idols. Participants will come away with a more in depth understanding of how people in conflict become distracted from a God-honoring, wisdom-centered focus to a result-oriented, world-view centered focus on fixing the pain or conflict through punishment. As both conciliators and in our personal lives we will get practical experience at bringing the punishment into the light and exploring the steps in between to reach the heart’s desires. We will learn how to avoid allowing ourselves to become overwhelmed by the emotional mire we often encounter in the peacemaking process and which our enemy regularly uses to enable us ineffective. Participants will come away with the ability to move forward and engage in the peacemaking process dependent on our Lord’s strength and confident in his sovereignty.
Identifying and Overcoming Common Hindrances to Peacemaking
Instructors: Bruce Nelson & Bryan Nelson
As peacemakers, we must be in tune with God’s agenda to rescue conflicted parties from the default setting of living for themselves rather than for He who died and was raised again. So what do we do when the parties are unwilling to: (1) Come to the reconciliation table? (2) See themselves accurately in the perfect mirror of God’s Word, rather than always turning the mirror toward those who are in conflict with them? (3) Let go of their own personal agendas and conditions attached to forgiveness and reconciliation? This workshop will identify and address these and other common hindrances so that we can become more than mere behavior modification coaches helping people resolve substantive disputes like the world does. Instead, we can become instruments to accomplish God’s redemptive heart-transformational surgery which frees the parties to be able to act in a manner worthy of the Gospel in resolving their relational and substantive disputes.
The Peace-Minded Leader
Instructor: Eric Willis
Conflict is found in every leadership culture. As pastors and ministry leaders, we have great need to navigate conflict skillfully, create environments that foster peace, and promote healthy interactions when conflict is present… And in those moments when our leadership is needed most, we battle the doubts and fears that freeze us. This workshop addresses the heart of the leader in the heat of the battle; pointing to hope found in the reality that we are remarkably different.
Should I Cover or Confront? When and How to Rebuke
Instructor: Robert Jones
When someone sins against us, we often face a difficult fork in the road: When should we overlook and when should we rebuke? This workshop will present criteria for resolving the apparent tension between the biblical commands to cover and to confront, along with wise prerequisites and practical methods for lovingly rebuking someone.
Addressing Unforgiveness in a Remarkably Different Way
Instructor: Ted Kober
Dealing with unforgiveness is a common but challenging task for the Christian conciliator. Often, we approach such a situation through confrontation, pointing out God’s expectations and commands. Learn a remarkably different way is to address this spiritual issue through proclaiming God’s forgiveness. You may be surprised at the power of the Gospel! Solutions presented include asking coaching questions to recognize the root of unforgiveness and then applying proclamation of God’s forgiveness to help people overcome their forgiveness of others. Hear how Scripture identifies root causes of unforgiveness and the biblical solution. Real life illustrations will demonstrate how this can work.
Workshop Session 5 (Saturday, September 28, 9:30am-10:45am)
International Forum – A Conversation with Bishop Mouneer Anis of Egypt
The Most Rev. Dr. Mouneer Anis is Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa and a plenary speaker at this year’s Peacemaker Conference. Bishop Mouneer has been at the center of the many changes impacting Egypt as a leader of the Christian community. He is very familiar with the work of Peacemaker Ministries, having hosted two training programs for the leaders of Egypt’s Anglican Communion. During this informal time, Bishop Mouneer will answer questions and share his vision for the vital role peacemaking can play in Egypt and the larger Middle East.
The “Relationship Dance”: Unpacking Marital Conflict to Identify Idols
Instructor: Wendy Konneman
In marital conflict often the focus is on the unwanted behavior. This workshop helps to look at the patterns of a relationship (the “dance”) by unpacking an argument to help identify: the unwanted behaviors; the emotions underneath driving those behaviors; the meaning given to the spouse’s behaviors, which act as drivers of our emotions; identifying where those meanings/fears come from; and linking our idols/demands to the meanings/fears. If we only focus on the behavior that couples portray it only gives a hint of the root issue. Fixing a behavior does not fix the heart issues. By tracking the “dance” couples are able to see the root cause for unwanted behaviors and have an opportunity to confess/repent to God for the idols driving the behavior, and to ask forgiveness from their spouse. This workshop will commence with a teaching component, followed by a brief role-play and then space for a debrief.
Making it Stick: Helping Students Apply the Young Peacemaker in Real Life
Instructor: Luke McKeeth
Have you ever found yourself thinking: ”Peacemaking sounds good in theory, but how do I get my students to actually apply it?” It is no easy task to help students develop a mindset that is remarkably different from the norm. To move from theory to application requires that students be able to functionally take a Biblical mindset and model of conflict resolution beyond the classroom, camp, or outreach event into their lives. In this session youth and children’s workers will benefit from some field-tested and kid-approved tools to help transform peacemaking principles from boring lessons into life-transforming knowledge and skills. Using music, role-plays, and a few real-student stories we will explore the challenge of helping kids understand, retain, and apply the simple Gospel truths that underlie biblical conflict resolution. Each participant will receive a CD-Rom containing all the music, and tools that are covered in the session.
The Remarkably Different Transformational Servant Leader (Part 1)
Instructor: Jeanine Parolini
Overwhelmed by all the leadership resources? Feeling pulled in multiple directions? Is it hard to know when to challenge or when to shepherd those you lead as a peacemaker? Does your congregation want a shepherd leader whereas your board desires a visionary leader or vice versa? It can be difficult to find a peaceful balance and then bring peace to those you lead. Join other leaders in this workshop to discover how to lead in a remarkably different way called transformational servant leadership. Discover and assess Jesus’ ability to lead as both a transformational and servant leader, when he did it, and why. Assess your own ability to lead in this way and how you can inspire others through your peaceful leadership presence. Become a remarkably different peacemaking leader to those in your sphere of influence! We would encourage you to attend both workshops for the maximum benefit.
Designing Remarkably Effective Homework Assignments
Instructor: Ed Keinath
Coming up with an effective homework assignment can make all the difference in conflict coaching and mediation. In fact, the right homework assignment often is the key for reconciliation! But how to do it well can be difficult. Learn practical, easy-to-use tools to make your homework assignments remarkably effective. Solutions presented include utilizing resources such as The Peacemaker, Forgiven to Forgive devotion booklet, coaching bookmarks, Peacemaking Principles pamphlet, and more. Illustrations from actual cases will demonstrate how these tools will make your homework assignments powerfully effective.
Leaving the Church: How to Respond to Millennials
Instructor: Steve Long
Fact: Young adults, particularly those raised in the church, are leaving the “Church” in droves; approximately 10 years later, perhaps half of those will return. Young Adult Ministries regularly leave churches en masse to start their own “Church” plant. How should peacemakers respond – plant it, build it or stay away from it? Peacemaker Ministries has been examining this issue and now it is an intentional strategy of Peacemaker Ministries to minister to and with millennials in a healthy, holistic, and above all else, Scriptural way for the Glory of God and the cause of peacemaking. Whether you are a millennial yourself or are working with millennials, especially in church leadership, then please come to this workshop and become part of the discussion. This is an opportunity for you to contribute to the conversation as we move forward.
Workshop Session 6 (Saturday, September 28, 11:15am-12:30pm)
Peacemakers’ Explorer Guide
Instructor: Karl Dortzbach
In our communities of difference, how might I take biblical peacemaking to people different from “me”? Much of our present Peacemaker Ministries world looks alike. How might God’s diversity enrich our experience? What have we learned from teaching peacemaking globally? How can we apply peacemaking to move beyond our own cultural limits? How do we go? Discuss? Get the log out of our cultural eye? Are there unresolved cultural conflicts right where we live? What roles might the church play in mediating those conflicts? This workshop will help identify how to use the church as a peacemaking forum that stimulates discussion in diverse areas including politics, race, and even doctrine—areas in which we often create “tribal identities.”
Peacemaking outside the Church: Applying Peacemaking Principles in Your Community
Instructor: Christian Muntean
Peacemaking Principles are often taught and practiced with the assumption that we are working with Christians and within a church context. However, peacemaking is a powerful way of relating to all people. This workshop will address ways to contextualize the principles of peacemaking for those whom may not share our faith or way of relating to scripture. It will specifically discuss how to maintain spiritual integrity while adapting how we relate and communicate. Explore how to serve non-Christians, how to serve in contexts that do not welcome an overtly Christian presentation and how to relate to Christians who are not familiar with Scripture or don’t view it as authoritative.
The Remarkably Different Transformational Servant Leader (Part 2)
Instructor: Jeanine Parolini
Overwhelmed by all the leadership resources? Feeling pulled in multiple directions? Is it hard to know when to challenge or when to shepherd those you lead as a peacemaker? Does your congregation want a shepherd leader whereas your board desires a visionary leader or vice versa? It can be difficult to find a peaceful balance and then bring peace to those you lead. Join other leaders in this workshop to discover how to lead in a remarkably different way called transformational servant leadership. Discover and assess Jesus’ ability to lead as both a transformational and servant leader, when he did it, and why. Assess your own ability to lead in this way and how you can inspire others through your peaceful leadership presence. Become a remarkably different peacemaking leader to those in your sphere of influence! We would encourage you to attend both workshops for the maximum benefit.
Putting Humpty Dumpty Together Again: Rebuilding Trust
Instructor: Rick Shoemaker
Reconciliation requires both forgiveness and rebuilding of trust. We will examine ways to rebuild trust and try to discern occasions when trust is inadvisable. If ever there were a man who had reason not to trust, it was Joseph, the son of Jacob. His life was marked by betrayal (his envious brothers), false accusations (Potipher’s wife), and broken promises (Pharaoh’s chief butler). We will examine the way that Joseph tested his brothers before he felt ready to trust them again and the factors required to rebuild trusting relationships. We will also consider examples when trust can be foolhardy and inadvisable.
How to Protect a Christian Marriage from Worldly Influences
Instructor: Steve Short
When getting married the vast majority of couples expect their marriages to last until death. We all know this takes a lot of hard work. Marriages not only take hard work, but biblically smart work to make a marriage blessed and pleasing to God. Based on Ephesians 5:21-27 this workshop will present a biblical way of protecting a marriage from the temptations that try to destroy it. Many people are hurting in their own marriages and want solid answers that will help them. Some people who are hurting for other couples they know are looking for tools to equip struggling couples. Whichever group you are in you will be encouraged with biblical answers to overcome marriages built on wrong biblical doctrines, which created a bad foundation for couples and families. The main focus of this workshop is teaching couples to study the Bible together and then apply it to their marriage, building a wall of protection that will shield it from umbilical attacks.
Workshop Session 7 (Saturday, September 28, 2:00pm-3:15pm)
Practice Recognizing Heart Issues
Instructor: Anne Bachle Fifer
We can all use help recognizing and dealing with heart issues while conflict coaching. In this workshop, we will consider how certain heart issues might express themselves and, through role-play, we’ll attempt to recognize and address them. This workshop builds on the CCM, and assumes participants are familiar with the Schmitt/Gabriel role-play. Your take-away will be a heightened awareness of what a conciliator might hear, or not hear, that would be a clue regarding a particular heart issue, as well as an enhanced ability to deal with it.
Exploring Narrative Mediation
Instructors: Nina Balmaceda & Chip Zimmer
In the last 20 years, alternative approaches to mediation have arisen. One of the most interesting is “Narrative Mediation,” which is founded in social constructionist theory. The Narrative approach views conflict as a “story” to be re-written, rather than a “problem” to be solved. This workshop will present an overview of the Narrative model and show how narrative techniques can enrich a biblical peacemaking process.
Persevering with Grace When Our Leaders Let Us Down
Instructor: Tara Barthel
As wonderful as God-ordained authority is (and it is wonderful!), our leaders are not perfect. No matter how hard they try, their leadership of us will always be flawed. They may misunderstand us, take offense at something we do or say, or simply not like our personality. In their fallenness and sin, they may actually wrong us intentionally. More often, even with the best of intentions, they may hurt us unintentionally by their neglect, by not having necessary skills or resources, or simply by not prioritizing their relationships with us. So how do we respond? Do we act just like pagans and tax collectors (Matt. 5:43-48) and harshly criticize them? Gossip about them? Withhold our love and devotion from them until they change and do better? Or is God calling us to respond differently? This seminar will explore some practical ways that the gospel enables us to persevere with grace when our leaders let us down. Specifically, we will address what it looks like to be hurt by our leaders; what some of our natural responses are (and the heart causes behind those responses); and how the Lord calls us (and enables us) to respond differently.
Renewing the Mind to Transform Responses to Conflict
Instructor: Dee Quick
As conciliators, one of the challenges we face is helping parties to break out of reactive and repetitive patterns of escape and attack responses. In this workshop, we will explore some physiological responses during conflict, heart idols, and renewing the mind to transform responses. Can the brain’s amygdala fuel escape and attack responses? How can renewing the mind with the truth of God’s Word help calm the amygdala and transform the way one responds to conflict? Participants will identify questions that may expose heart idols stored by the amygdala. In addition, participants will come away with homework assignments that can help parties discern between fleshly and godly responses. We will also discuss ways to help motivate parties to test and approve God’s will and respond to conflict in a remarkably different way.
Building a Peacemaking Team
Instructors: Sandra Quick & New Salem Missionary Baptist Church Peacemaking Team
Building a Peacemaking Team is hard work. The process takes planning, time, and commitment, not to mention patience while bringing all parties, especially your leadership, into the design process. But the benefits for the team members and those they serve are well worth it. The New Salem Missionary Baptist Church of Columbus, OH has been building their Peacemaking Team for over eight years. The Team started with a pilot project focused on teen bullying, moved to capacity building and equipping with self-selected laypersons, and morphed to team building with the ministerial leadership. Attendees will take away our motives to begin the team effort, the trials and successes of the process’ expansion, and how God is glorified each time a member uses the equipping and training. This workshop will be in an interactive panel format.
When Nothing Works: Loving Enemies and Those Who Act like Them
Instructor: Robert Jones
What do we do if all of our peacemaking efforts fail? What if the other person remains unrepentant over his (or her) sins or unwilling to forgive you and reconcile your relationship? Whether he is hostile and aggressive, or cold and bitter, he is acting like an enemy. Using Luke 6:27-36 as our foundation, this workshop will present a grace-based, threefold practical strategy of how to please God and love that person.
Conflict Coaching Role Play (Part 1)
Facilitated by: Ed Keinath & Ted Kober
“I wish I had more experience in coaching!” Really? Then attend this Coaching Role-Play workshop and participate either as a party or as a coach. Similar to your Conflict Coaching/Mediation training, you will spend the workshop time in a full-length role-play to practice and experience conflict coaching. Participants must have completed Conflict Coaching training (from PMM, AoR or PeaceWise) in order to participate in this role-play exercise. Participants must sign up in advance so that case study information can be provided and assignments for roles can be made. When signing up, indicate if willing to serve as a party, a coach, or either. Note: There are two opportunities to participate in this workshop. Please plan to participate in both opportunities – one as a party and one as a coach. There will also be a meeting on Friday night from 5:00pm-5:30pm in Fairfield to pick up your role play assignments – please plan to attend this as well.
Workshop Session 8 (Saturday, September 28, 3:45pm-5:00pm)
Exploring Transformative Mediation
Instructors: Nina Balmaceda & Chip Zimmer
Different from problem-solving approaches to mediation, the Transformative model does not focus on solving the immediate dispute, rather, its purpose is to facilitate the empowerment and mutual recognition of the parties. Its goal is that each person will be able to define issues in their own words and understand the points of view of others. This workshop presents an overview of the Transformative model and will show how transformative techniques can enrich a biblical peacemaking process.
The Remarkably Different Confession
Instructor: John Richardson
Mediators regularly encounter resistance when parties are faced with responsibility for injuring another person. Often when an offender attempts to address the situation it falls short of what is needed. There is an effective way to respond to hurting another person. This workshop will explore the biblical roots of confession of sin as well as practical application for the mediation context. It will also delve into topics like how confession of sin is treated in Scripture, whether confessions are directed toward God or the offended person, how legal issues are involved in confession and more. Through instruction, group exercises and discussion, conciliators will gain a fuller perspective of what is involved in confession and gain confidence in using tools and strategies to coach parties.
Redemptive Church Discipline: The How and When to the Why
Instructor: Eric Willis
There is a need for church leadership to make difficult decisions regarding situations where church members refuse to listen to counsel and repent from sin. Most congregations do not have a practical “how” and “when” that aligns with the “why” of their hearts desire to be biblically faithful in exercising accountability. For the church to be remarkably different requires us to infuse the process with hope and redemption. This workshop provides attendees a proposed process for providing tangible steps to implementing grace based, redemptive church discipline.
The Difference of Bold Faith: Overcoming Crippling Fears in Peacemaking
Instructors: Andy & Dawna Selle
Anyone who works with conflicted parties knows that overpowering fears, often unspoken, can torpedo the conciliation process. Fears function like idols because fear is the flip side of want—the soft underbelly of desire. If I pursue reconciliation…I’m afraid I will lose my case (I want to win)….I’m afraid others will see my failures (I want approval)….I’m afraid I will get hurt again (I want safe, low-risk relationships). Such fears drive us to avoid peacemaking and abandon relationships. You don’t have to be Dr. Phil to understand and address fear, and effective peacemakers must do so. How? By watching the Gospel break through! Through instruction, case studies, and class discussion, this workshop will present a biblical methodology for assisting people to become Gospel-driven rather than fear-driven (desire-driven). “Faith working by love” (Gal 5:6) releases people from fear’s bondage—and when that happens, reconciliation and remarkably different relationships are around the corner.
Conflict Coaching Role Play (Part 2)
Facilitated by: Ed Keinath & Ted Kober
“I wish I had more experience in coaching!” Really? Then attend this Coaching Role-Play workshop and participate either as a party or as a coach. Similar to your Conflict Coaching/Mediation training, you will spend the workshop time in a full-length role-play to practice and experience conflict coaching. Participants must have completed Conflict Coaching training (from PMM, AoR or PeaceWise) in order to participate in this role-play exercise. Participants must sign up in advance so that case study information can be provided and assignments for roles can be made. When signing up, indicate if willing to serve as a party, a coach, or either. Note: There are two opportunities to participate in this workshop. Please plan to participate in both opportunities – one as a party and one as a coach. There will also be a meeting on Friday night from 5:00pm-5:30pm in Fairfield to pick up your role play assignments – please plan to attend this as well.
How to Effectively Identify Heart Idols and the Cure
Instructor: KC Dierenfield
When helping others in conflict, identifying idols appears to be one of the hardest peacemaking skills to master, but is tantamount in conflict coaching and meditation. I realized years ago, if I couldn’t teach it well, I didn’t know it well! How do you help others avoid getting caught in the sin of idol worship when demanding and expecting to get their own way from God and others? How do you help them understand what is at the core of their heart and what they are really needing and craving? Since we live in a feeling oriented society where ‘feelings rule’, you will also learn how feelings play a huge role in idolatry. How do you help others deal with their feelings and find peace, so they’re not following their emotional heart that can slide them into conflict, destruction and bondage? This workshop will address all of these questions, plus more. It will help you understand every step of the Slippery Slope of Idol Worship. You will learn a simple form of the three core heart needs, called “SSS,” so you can effectively help others. You will also find that learning how to help others understand and identify their idols might help you in your own personal life!
*Schedule is subject to change….